1st Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp

On the weekend of August 28th-29th, Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts hosted the 1st Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp.

The camp took place at the Kombat Arts Academy in Mississauga, Ontario. Not surprisingly, it was a great success due to the fantastic teaching of Master Chuck Gauss and Master Ken Smith.

First, we started the camp with a moment of silence for Professor Presas, who passed away on the first day of camp nine years ago.

Master Ken demonstrating the counter!
I’m trapped!
Master Chuck about to counter me!
Uh oh, he’s going to hit me!
Andy and Dougie!
Jason and his friend!
Rob and Ed working it.
Mark and Cassandra
Adam and Estelle
Joel disarming me!
Left vs right tapi tapi
Boom! Rob is in trouble!
Master Ken demonstrating on Rob
Group Photo

After that, Master Ken Smith began the Toronto camp with the slap-off/pull-off drill. While doing so, he showed how to use the flow movement as a counter.

We then settled into the camp routine of Master Smith and Master Gauss, taking turns teaching various aspects of Modern Arnis. Along the way, they mixed in their humour and stories about Professor.

If I’m correct, this was the first Modern Arnis camp in the Greater Toronto Area, adding to the GTA Filipino Martial Arts scene. Awesome!!

The camp covered a wide variety of Modern Arnis concepts and techniques, including left vs. right tapi tapi, sinawali boxing, pressure points, and joint locks. Furthermore, disarms, counters to disarms, traditionals, and self-defence techniques were also taught.

If you are not able to view this video, click here.

Many attendees commented on the seamless instruction flow from Master Chuck and Master Ken as the camp progressed. Consequently, the attendees, from beginners to advanced, learned quite a bit.

I would like to thank the attendees who took time away from their families and lives to attend the 1st Toronto Modern Arnis Camp: Terence Dayot, Rob Rodas, Joel Alfane, Jason Fletcher, Alan Wilson, Steve Cheston, Cassandra Kwan, Mark Banez, Carlo DiBenedetto, Andy Tong, Estelle Sullivan, and Adam Langevin.

Lastly, I thank Master Chuck Gauss and Master Ken Smith for doing a fantastic job at this camp. I look forward to hosting them for future Toronto Modern Arnis camps!

Postscript: A couple of weeks after this camp, I attended another camp in Las Vegas. That was a blast! Further, ArnisFest took place six weeks later at Master Ken’s school. What a busy year this was!